job

As a professional freelance writer who is interested in building an online freelance writing career, there were times when I used to quite often visit oDesk. The frequent visits were to check for openings and apply for almost all the potential jobs. And then I used to get messages like this:

from oDesk.(Emphasis mine).The undeniable underlining hope was that it would take me closer to a successful freelance writing career. I was yet to learn the tricks of the freelancing trade. I did not know then that I was wasting my time and effort applying for some of those ‘freelance content writing openings’ that were very clearly saying ‘DO NOT APPLY’. Surprised? Don’t be.

The signs were all there. The thing was I did not know how to read all those signs then. I do not claim to be any wiser now. But then I think I am better off from where I began working on oDesk, having spent more than 50 productive oDesk hours (you can check my oDesk history) and made some pretty decent money with freelance writing. It included, website content writing, product descriptions (more about it in future), press releasenews, ghost writing for employment related blogs, some Internet research apart from other jobs.

Those little known ways that helped me, didn’t they? So I would like to share them with you so you too can save some time. You can invest that time in improving your chances of quickly finding ‘paying jobs’ and make some more money.

The First Tip
I subscribed to “Job alerts” a feature that you will find under your ‘My Profile” tab. Half the clutter is out.

I get my job alerts into my inbox. The jobs of my choice walk into my ‘inbox’.The Second Tip
When I visit the job posting on oDesk, the first thing even before I read the job posting is, check to see if the ‘buyer‘ is ‘oDesk Verified” for ‘Payment’

If the buyer is not ‘verified’ then you need to think twice before applying. Is this buyer really serious about the job? IMHO, I do not think this buyer is either professional or serious. Out goes this from the list.The Third Tip
I check the ‘Buyer Facts’. If this buyer became a member and posted this job the same day, this buyer too is ‘out‘.

The reason? Well, I think this buyer doesn’t need my attention because, this buyer is not willing to tell me how she is going to pay me and when she is going to pay me, if at all she is going to pay me.So, there you have a buyer, who is not “oDesk payment verified” and the ‘oDesk Buyer Facts’ has nothing to tell you, so what would you do?

You love the gig and want to ‘do’ it. Go ahead. Be my guest. You can always give this gig a try and may be you will be introducing a great buyer to all of us here at oDesk.

Bonus:

The bonus is you can avoid all those “Candidacy Ended“, “project was canceled“, “Project expired” messages and unnecessary disappointments that keep crawling into your in box.

Green jobs are jobs that are associated with initiatives and or activities that either directly or indirectly reduce the harm caused to the natural environment around us. These jobs are naturally with companies that are conscious of their social responsiveness.

There are also different types of Green Jobs. Let us for the sake of clarity divide them into two.

1 – This type of Green Job involves discharging duties and help reduce the harmful impact on the surrounding environment. In this job, one need not necessarily be in an eco-friendly industry.

2 – In this second type of Green Job, it involves a certain responsibility with a company or an institution that works towards reducing the harmful impact on the natural environment.

While in the first one, the individual discharges a certain duty that impacts and possibly reduces the harm caused to the environment, in the second instance it is an enterprise whose aim is to contain and possibly diminish environmental pollution or harm caused to it. In other words these entities improve the quality of the surrounding natural environment.

For example if you are looking at a company that is into harnessing wind turbinetechnology, we can say that this is an enterprise that is working towards reducing the dependence on fossil fuels and hence is green and eco-friendly. Therefore one who is pursuing this career is said to be in a Green Job.

For example, let us look at a person who earns his bread, repairing bicycles. This individual is helping us bring down our dependence on fossil fuels that drive our vehicles and therefore is contributing to keeping the environment around clean and sustainable. While this individual may be pursuing this job with the complete knowledge that it is a Green Job chances are until this moment even you may have not thought on those lines, that is, this is a Green Job!

So we can term any career that involves an eco-friendly technology and contributes to reducing carbon foot print on environment is a green job.

So if you are looking for a change look at a green job, in a green industry that is promising a bright and green future.

For those of you, who need to wear a tie to be more impressive either for a job interview or in an office a TIE is a must. This video would help you learn how to knot a tie – the Windsor Knot.
Learn it.
This guide shows you how to tie them properly and this clip shows the classiest knot of all, The Windsor.

How to Write A Good Résumé
This helps you with a few tips about writing Cover Letter and a CV / Résumé and get you that job you want so badly!
Monday, March 24, 2003
How to Write a Good Résumé.

Hints, Pointers, and Tips ‘O the Trade
1. Don’t send your résumé as an attachment. People looking to fill a position can receive hundreds of inquiries, and they’re not going to bother to take the extra time to open and print out your résumé. Put your résumé in the body of the email, after your cover letter.

Writing Letters:
The résumé & the Application Letter gives the prospective employer everything they
Would like to know about you.

You need to format your résumé and Cover letter for the hard copy, which you may send.
1- While formatting leave adequate margins on all sides i.e., top bottom, left and right.
2 – The lay out should be neat and visually pleasing.
3 – The first block on the left of the letter would be the Employers Address.

A It would be better to call up the advertiser and get to know the name of the person who is to receive the letter. Check the spelling. Check it again read out aloud and confirm it. If you do not have a name, if the advertisement gives you no salutation, print ‘The Advertiser’ or ‘The Personnel Manager’.

The title of the employers name can be abbreviated like a Mr. Or Dr. If it is a woman you are addressing, use ’Ms’. Most of the other forms would be a Mrs. or a Miss.

It is a Ms. Laxmi and a Dr. Adam Wheavil and NOT Dr. Vinod Kumar MBBS.

Introduction:
You identify yourself, the position you are applying for and how you came to know about it.

Body:
You mention about your knowledge, your experience and your desire to work for the company and any of your knowledge about the company.

Conclusion:
You indicate the enclosed contents of the résumé and finish with a request.
You may also be proactive and inform that you would call back say in a week or ten days time to follow up your application. You request for an interview.

Ending

It is ideal to close the letter with ‘yours sincerely’ and ‘with regards’ / ‘warm regards’ ONLY when you know the employer.

Signature Block

You put your signature here. Ideally two lines below the ending of the letter. Beneath your signature your name should be printed legibly. Ideally with the first letters of your name in capitals e.g. A. Bill Gates but not Mr. A. Bill Gates. (You never introduce yourself with a Mr. / Ms / Dr. Etc.,)

Check the résumé for spelling mistakes before enclosing. The enclosure should be mentioned in the cover letter.

After your name leave two lines space and type : ‘Enclosure’. You may also type
‘Encl.:’ my résumé or simply résumé or append your name to it, to make it unique. Say for example if your name is Joe Bill, it would read, Joe Bill_résumé.

SAMPLE LETTER:

DATE

dd mmm yy

The date on which the letter was written.

ADDRESS:

The Advertiser (When no name is given) When a name is given Mr. / Ms. / Dr. /Prof. /)
The address in the advertisement.

Dear Sir / Madam

(You use this salutation when you or not aware of the gender of the person to whom you are addressing the letter.)

Sub: Application for the post of (mention the position you are seeking)

This letter is with reference to your advertisement
(NEVER USE THE ABBREVIATIONS) in the mention the name of the publication, and the date
(for e.g ‘The Hindu’, dated 15th August 2003.) I would like to apply (mention the position).

(This paragraph mentions about personality, character attributes that would suit the position you are applying for. These are the qualities that you wouldn’t able to mention in your RÉSUMÉ apart from others. Here you may mention that your résumé is enclosed).

I have ………………………. about ………………as mentioned in my résumé which is enclosed

Kindly give me a chance to present myself for an interview. I am looking forward to an early and positive response from you.

Yours sincerely,

(leave at least five lines space.)

Your signature.

(Your name)

Encl.: Résumé .

A résumé is a document that describes you, your background and the career your seeking
To excel in. This is THE document that creates the first impression of you on the prospective employer.

 try to get to know about the organization.
 Its services / products.
 Avoid length descriptions.
 Combine your knowledge with the experience required by the organization.
 Put it chronologically.
 Mention what ‘YOU’ did for the previous company or the present company with which you are employed NOT what ‘WE’ did.
 Use action words.
 Check your gramar.
 Check your spling.
 Take second opinions.